Swiss World Super G Champion Didier Cuche lulled the rest of the field into an almost false sense of security as he won the 4th Men's World Cup Super G in Kitzbuehel. In one of the most closely fought races of the modern era, Cuche snatched the win from Michael Walchhofer who had only just arrived in the finish area with the magical number one up against his name.  As Walchhofer undid his boots and soaked in the atmosphere of leading at Kitzbuehel, all the split times posted by Cuche on the Rolex clock looked good for the Austrian.  "I could hear all the Austrians, and maybe some of the Swiss screaming as I came down the final straight, so I knew that maybe it would be a good race for me," he admitted afterwards. "I knew that his (Didier Cuche's) times up to the Hausbergkannte were a little behind and that was good!" at this point Cuche jumped in to apologise for cutting short his happiness! Georg Streitberger placed third a mere hundredth behind his illustrious compatriot.

The conditions were almost picture perfect and this showed in the closeness of the racing.  The snow conditions and perfect visual ability created the perfect conditions for racing. Last year's winner, Klaus Kroell was back in 17th spot but just a mere second behind with the top thirty all packed in to just over a second and a half behind Cuche! This closeness of the racing meant that the Rolex timing was tested to its extreme exactness - three pairs of racers all set the same time in the first thirty finishers.

Andrej Jerman set the early pace from number 4 and Canadian Erik Guay put in a long overdue performance that lifted him for a while on to the podium but he would eventually finish in fifth behind Jerman.  Michael Walchhofer, starting 16, used all his experience to post a faster time that the Slovenian but did not have long to enjoy the leading position before Cuche dislodged him.  29 year old Georg Streitberger came down at the end of the top seeds and almost stole second from Walchhofer. "I skied well and was surprised in the finish, I saw I was third and could not believe it," explained the delighted Austrian.

Cuche's run from the Hausbergkannte down to the finish was jaw dropping. "It was almost too perfect he admitted afterwards. "Had a ski hit a rut and not carved around the gate I would have been in trouble." The exactness required by the top racers as they carve down the steepness of sections of the course is reflected by all the components of the course: Exact timings and precise measurements!

While the Swiss celebrated winning in Kitzbuehel, four Austrians made it into the top ten giving the crowd cause for celebration.  The good natured crowds were united in their appreciation of the efforts the racers were putting in coming down the Streif.  While Rolex Testimonee Lara Gut watched from the comfort of the Ziel Haus VIP Hospitality, this was a Classic race with a big C.  The roar that greeted Michael Walchhofer's Number 1 when he crossed the line was reminiscent of another Rolex Great: The legendary Hermann Maier.

Hahnenkamm-Race
January 22, 2010
Kitzbuehel, Austria

Cuche wins first Kitzbuehel super-G

From the famed Hausberg bump, across the turbulent traverse and down the Zielschuss, Didier Cuche displayed perfection. The Swiss racer, who has twice won the Hahnekamm Downhill added his first super-G victory to his Kitzbuehel accolades on Friday.

Cuche overcame a deficit of .29 seconds at the second and final split time, smoking the lower section of the course to claim the victory by .28 seconds over Austria's Michael Walchhofer. Cuche clocked a winning time of 1:17.94 on the 2260-meter "Streifalm" course skiing immediately after Walchhofer.

"I knew that I had control over the Hausberg and I had good luck to make the next two turns on a high line," said Cuche in the finish area. "That's a key part switching the skis onto the traverse. I think I caught it perfectly, almost too good. I was so close to the gate that if the ski would touch some bump, it would have been problems. I had luck to have such a nice line there and then through the finish."

Cuche earned his eighth career podium in Kitzbuehel. In addition to two downhill wins (1998 & 2008) and two second-place finishes, he now has a top spot in super-G to accompany three third-place finishes.

"I think it's kind of the feeling that when you're here, you have to grow to your capacity to be better than the other guys," said Cuche about his success in the famed Austrian resort. "That's pushing me really far to my limits. It's a feeling that I really appreciate when I'm in the finish in Kitzbuehel and I'm fast."

Walchhofer left the starthouse 16th and briefly had the lead crossing the finish line in 1:18.22, only to have Cuche overtake him as the next man down. It was the best-ever super-G performance in Kitzbuehel for the big Austrian, surpassing a third-place finish in 2004.

"The middle section was top class, I had so much speed there," said Walchhofer. "Maybe I held back a bit too much before the final section. That made the difference."

Perhaps the most unexpected showing of the day belonged to 28-year-old Austrian, Georg Streitberger. Racing 23rd, he was ahead of Cuche by .14 seconds at the first intermediate time. Unable to match the Swiss champion on the lower section of the course, Streitberger still skied impressively, crossing the finish line in third, .29 behind Cuche and only .01 behind Walchhofer.

It was just the second career podium for the Austrian, who has been on tour since 2005. Streitberger won a super-G in Kvitfjell, Norway in 2008.

"I'm surprised with the third place - it was a good run for me and third is wonderful," said Streitberger. "I skied well and didn't make any mistakes so it was good."

Streitberger excitedly tossed flowers to the Austrian fans after standing on the podium with the two veteran racers.

"It's my second podium and my first was with Miller and Cuche," he said. "Today with Walchhofer and Cuche is great."

Slovenia's Andrej Jerman, who won a downhill in Bormio, Italy in late December barely missed his first-ever super-G top three. The 31-year-old took the lead being the fourth racer to navigate the challenging slope with a time of 1:18.30. However, he would eventually fall short of a podium, being bumped down to fourth, only .07 seconds behind Streitberger.

"I'm happy with my performance," said Jerman. "Losing a podium by seven-hundredths is a little bit of pain, but never mind. It's still a great performance for me."

Canada's Erik Guay, who has struggled lately, got back on track finishing fifth, while Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal and Switzerland's Tobias Gruenenfelder tied for sixth.

For Cuche, it was his third victory of the season and 12th of his career. He also won a giant slalom in Soelden in October and a downhill in Lake Louise in November.

He also gained ground in the chase for the overall World Cup title, but still trails teammate Carlo Janka, who was 19th on Friday by 143 points and Austria's Benjamin Raich, who was 27th, by 83.

Tomorrow, Cuche seeks his third career Hahnenkamm downhill victory. He was fastest in training on Wednesday and second quickest yesterday behind American Bode Miller.

Find out more about World Cup Skiers contributing to the Haiti Relief Effort on www.hahnenkamm.com. Purchase an autographed start bib from tomorrow's Hahnenkamm downhill to help the cause.

By Brian Pinelli
FISalpine.com
Friday 22 January 2010